Sea turtle lays eggs at La Manga
After several failed attempts along the coast this summer a turtle has finally nested
A LOGGERHEAD turtle’s nest containing 100 eggs has been discovered on a beach at La Manga del Mar Menor.
The authorities were alerted about turtle tracks in the sand and they launched the protocol to locate and protect the eggs from predators.
A spokesman for the regional environment department explained that 90 eggs were moved to a safer location nearby and another 10 eggs have been placed in an incubator at El Valle animal recovery centre near Murcia city. The new nest site is around 500 metres from the original one.
It is being guarded 24 hours a day by Protección Civil volunteers, environmental staff and a security guard service at night.
Two failed attempts by turtles to lay their eggs have been recorded at Murcia beaches this summer, with several more occurring on the south Costa Blanca at Orihuela Costa and Torrevieja.
Last summer, a loggerhead turtle nest was discovered at Calblanque shortly before the September floods.
The eggs were taken to the IMIDA marine research centre at San Pedro del Pinatar. A total of 21 eggs hatched and the youngsters are reported to be ‘growing healthy’.
They are expected to be released into the sea in the coming months, once they are strong enough to survive in the sea.
Beachgoers are asked to call the 112 emergency number if they spot turtle tracks on a beach so that the authorities can investigate and preserve any nest made by this protected species.